And this is nothing more than a trick - a subtle but deadly trick of the enemy. So don’t fall into his trap. Just as Paul says in verses 4&5...we need to bring every thought into the captivity of Christ. We need to replace that lie with the truth of God’s Word! Paul was speaking this as he was undergoing a difficult trial personally.

Paul’s credibility was called into question and he responds that he may seem weak, but he fights his battles using God’s mighty weapons - not man’s. He says, "I’m doing it Jesus’ way! Because these weapons are the only ones that will tear down the strongholds of the enemy. These are the only weapons that will ensure spiritual victory."

And this is the only way to overcome the devil...by using the Word of God! Remember, the devil is not only a liar, he is the father of all lies! He can’t tell the truth.

Have you become convinced that your destiny is to suffer defeat...to suffer pain...to suffer from sickness...to suffer from broken relationships? Have you become convinced that your life is messed up and can’t be fixed...or maybe that your family...church...

Well I’m here this morning to tell you that you can change your "destiny." But let me tell you this...You will never be healed...you will never be set free...you will never be delivered and revived as long as you think that your present state is all God wants for you!

It’s the devil who wants you to suffer...it’s the devil who wants to rob you of your joy...and your peace...and your family...and your relationships...and your church. It’s the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy!

Faith is an action. And to believe, to have faith in the Word of God is to act on the Word of God! Paul says the weapons available to us are mighty through God not just to get by...but to demolish these strongholds! Do you see how this works?

When the enemy comes in with these thoughts, and tries to torment us or cause us to live and act contrary to the Word of God...we need to begin to fight with the same weapons Jesus used to defeat Satan. And that is to quote the Word of God, with faith and assurance.

If the devil says you’re not saved...replace that thought with the words of John 1:12 - "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name."

If the enemy tells you God will not forgive your sin or heal your particular disease, replace that thought with one of God’s precious healing, delivering thoughts like Psalm 103:2-3 "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."

If the enemy tells you that you’re rejected and without hope or resources...replace that with Psalm 102:17 which says "He will respond to the prayer of the destitute, He will not despise their plea."

We need to remind Satan of 2 Corinthians 5:17 that says "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature...the old has gone, the new has come." So we can boldly stand up and say..."I’m a new creature in Christ! I’m more than a conqueror! Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!

We can boldly stand up and say, "I rebuke you, you lying demon! In the name of Jesus Christ I cast you and your thoughts out of my mind! Go, in Jesus name!

And he will go...and the fear will go...and you can smile and stand up tall and proud for Jesus - HALLELUJAH!! This is the plan Jesus used when He whipped the devil. Satan placed the thought in His mind, "Turn these stones to bread." But Jesus rejected that thought and replaced it with one of God’s thoughts by saying, "IT IS WRITTEN!"

And you can whip the devil every time by saying, "It is written!" Then go on to say what is written in the Word of God. Bring every thought into the captivity of Christ! That means we need to make the devil’s thoughts bow to the infallible Word of Almighty God. We need to drive them out with the power of His Word! We need to pull them down with "Thus saith the Lord!"

Jesus has conquered Satan for you...and now He has given you His authority to demonstrate the devil’s defeat. In Luke 10:19 we read these powerful words, "I have given you authority...to overcome all the power of the enemy!" And in Mark 16:17 Jesus says, "In my name YOU shall cast out demons! We have the power...we have the authority...Hallelujah!

The thought life is the battlefield. So guard your thoughts! Watch what you read...watch what you look at...watch what you let into your mind. Be careful who you listen to. Don’t let wrong thoughts linger there. Romans 12:1-2 (READ)

How are we transformed? By renewing our minds! And that means to live in the Word! Walk daily in the Word! Think God’s thoughts daily! RENEW YOUR MIND! Learn to think like God thinks about salvation, forgiveness, mercy, sickness, healing, deliverance, goodness...and all the other wonderful things in the Bible.

David was a man who said he was blessed. WHY? Listen to Psalm 1:1-3 (READ) Notice that it says his DELIGHT is in the law of the Lord! And on His law he MEDITATES...and meditates when? Day and night. It is the one who delights and meditates on the Word of God who can pull down strongholds and cast down imaginations. Now you know that God has given you the power to pull down strongholds...and what are you going to do with it.

This is warfare...and the battle is raging. But we do have weapons. And they are mighty through God! He has given you His Word...the Blood of Jesus...and the name of Jesus. If you dare to do your part...all heaven will come to your aid - and you will be victorious!

At 10/22/04 05:36 PM, -Blitz- wrote:
Yup. That pretty sums it up. Another thing to add. Satan is everywhere. We see so much about how God is not real real or that Jesus MAY have lived. Those are Satan's mind games.

Good pickup. I forgot to add those in there. Is it just my computer or is the private fourms down?

Well, I used to have a proboards. It's not too good. I really like invisionfree. It's good for many reasons. Plus you can customize the way the forum looks. You can use the preset stuff, or make your buttons for stuff, banner, and such. What do you mean demonation?

At 10/22/04 08:36 PM, -Blitz- wrote:
Well, I used to have a proboards. It's not too good. I really like invisionfree. It's good for many reasons. Plus you can customize the way the forum looks. You can use the preset stuff, or make your buttons for stuff, banner, and such.

The only reason i said proboard is because i have worked with them before. I do agree with you though, they arnt that good.

What do you mean demonation?

My mistake I misspelled it i meant demonination (i think thats how you spell it). I mean like are you Catholic, baptist, etc...

At 10/22/04 08:48 PM, DivineCrusader wrote:
So that means you live in the constaninople region? (Sorry if thats not right, my geo is very bad)

Not at all. lol. I live in Canada. I'm Byzantine because part of my family is Ukrainian. We're pretty much the same as Roman Catholic, just a few minor differences. One of which is how the church is built, the santuary must face east. What are you DC?

Worshipping Satan will gain you nothing except more suffering. If you worship Satan you will most likely go to Hell when you die, and the suffering that you will have to endure in Hell is far worse than anything that you could possibly experience here in this life.

Think about it. Is it really worth suffering un-imaginable pain and torment in Hell for the rest of eternity?

If you renew your faith in God and worship God again you can avoid eternal suffering in Hell.

What makes you so sure that a dillhole like God actually looks over a pethetic lifeform as us?

God made all lifeforms because God wanted to have people to keep Him company. Ever since God created humans He has given us signs that He is always looking over us and loves us. In a way, all of us are God's children.

At 10/22/04 10:46 PM, DivineCrusader wrote:
I'm episcapalen (sorry for the terrible spelling). Were prodistent, but the brance that is closest to Catholic.

That's cool. What are some differences between Prodistant and Roman Cathlic? Do you know why people of different religions cross themselves differently? BTW, I love your sermons. They're really interesting.

So, who do you confess to? Do you have to go to a priest for a confession? Confession's cool. You feel all light, and clean, and heppy.

Do you know why people of different religions cross themselves differently?

No i didnt. Can you give me some examples?

Byxantine Catholic put the thumb and first two fingers together (make a cross) and from forehead to heart (or chest), to right shoulder, then to the left shoulder. And that's repeated three times. Roman Catholics go like this: whole hand start at forehead, to heart, left shoulder, then right shoulder. And they only do that once.

At 10/22/04 11:04 PM, -Blitz- wrote:
So, who do you confess to? Do you have to go to a priest for a confession? Confession's cool. You feel all light, and clean, and heppy.

We confess to God. During our service we pause for about 10 min. and confess to the Lord

Byxantine Catholic put the thumb and first two fingers together (make a cross) and from forehead to heart (or chest), to right shoulder, then to the left shoulder. And that's repeated three times. Roman Catholics go like this: whole hand start at forehead, to heart, left shoulder, then right shoulder. And they only do that once.

hey, this looks like a pretty cool place. i am actuelly thinking about rejoining my old baptist church... my mom stopped going... but for other reasons. and besides getting to know the lord better, there is a girl i want to meet. church has the best girls. you know, the ones with morals, not the slutty ones.

yeah, see my mom used to teach sunday school, and then one year she got transferred to this other class to be an assistant teacher. they had two diferent teaching styles, and the person who had her transferred knew this. So my mom got really mad at the administrator and left. it was a shame.

i would like to join this place. i need to catch up on my studies... in fact, i need to read the bible itself. i had better do that this weekend.

Oh ok. Do you want to join? If you are very knowlageable in the Bible and in God than you would make a good Preacher.

yeah, sure.

to start it off, how do you feel about the Passion of the Christ?

that was the most awsome thing i have ever seen. i loved the message, and it made me slip back into real christianity. i was getting a little comfused, but now im sure of my path. all thanks to that movie.

Ahhh I remember that movie, i dont think i'll ever be able to forget it. But i think that it was the best and the worst movie that i have ever seen. The movie's frank desplay of what Christ went through was hard to watch, But it does show how much He suffered for mankind. All in all I think everyone should see it once. Once is enough.

i would like to join this place. i need to catch up on my studies...

Welcome to our Chrch

in fact, i need to read the bible itself. i had better do that this weekend.

If you can ead the Bible in one weekend more power to you man. It tokk me a couple of weeks.